The Health Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC) has expressed its support to the government's decision to place Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ)--the strictest quarantine classification in the Philippines.
The measure is necessary as hospitals are currently being swamped with patients due to surge in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections, said HPAAC member and President of Philippine College of Emergency Medicine Dr. Pauline Convocar.
The HPAAC, however, urged the government to make the necessary steps while the Greater Manila area is under ECQ.
“Ang lockdown ay isang mahalaga ngunit isang pansamantalang hakbang upang mapigil ang pag-ikot ng mga tao at mapigil ang pagkalat ng virus (The lockdown is an important measure but is only temporary to control people's mobility and to prevent the spread of the virus),” said Convocar during a press conference on Saturday night, March 27.
“Kailangan ito upang maiwasang mapuno ang mga ospital. Pero importante na maintindihan na kailangan na kasabay nito ay mga sustainable solutions (This is necessary to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. But it is important to understand that sustainable solutions are needed at the same time),” she added.
The HPAAC recommended that the government’s One Hospital Command should be transformed into “One COVID Referral Network.”
“Napakalaki ng papel ng isang buong referral system sa COVID response. Isang referral system na konektado, mula sa isang pinalakas na primary health care system all the way to a COVID referral hospital (The role of an entire referral system in the COVID response is enormous. A connected referral system, from a strengthened primary health care system all the way to a COVID referral hospital),” said Convocar.
“Sa ngayon, dagsa na po ang mga pasyente sa mga ospital--mga pasyenteng may COVID at walang COVID na nangangailangan ma-admit. Dahil dito, kailangan na pong palawakin ang sakop ng OHCC upang magkaroon ng maayos na pag responde sa pangangailangan ng mga pasyenteng ito (Currently, there are many patients in hospitals----patients with COVID and without COVID who need to be admitted. As a result, there is a need to expand the scope of OHCC to better respond to the needs of these patients),” she added.
“Ang COVID referral network na iminumungkahi namin ang siyang tutukoy kung sino ang mga pasyente na pwedeng manatili sa bahay sabay ng pag monitor ng mga BHERTS (Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams) at private providers at sino naman ang kailangang kailangan nang maipasok sa mga ospital at health facilities (The COVID referral network we are proposing will determine which patients can stay at home while being monitored by BHERTS and private providers ----and who needs to be admitted to hospitals and health facilities),” she furthered.
The HPAAC also recommended that all data in testing, contact tracing, isolation, quarantine, and treatment should all be connected to have an “integrated response.”
“Maraming contact tracing applications na po ang kasalukuyang ginagamit, hindi lamang ng mga LGU kundi pati mga pribadong establisimento. Ngunit, hindi po sila konektado sa isa’t-isa (Many contact tracing applications are currently in use, not only by LGUs but also private establishments. But, they are not connected to each other),” said Convocar.
“Hindi rin natin matutukoy nang maayos kung sino ang mga nangangailangan ng testing, sino ang kailangang i-quarantine, at sino naman ang kailangan nang irefer sa mga ospital (We also cannot properly determine who needs testing, who needs to be quarantined, and who needs to be referred to hospitals),” she added.
The HPAAC said that there should be a “central data warehouse repository.”
“Sa pamamagitan po ng agarang pag proseso ng mga datos na ito mapapabilis ang ating aksyon sa tinatawag na T3 strategy o Trace, Test, Treat Strategy (By immediately processing the data, our action on the so-called T3 strategy or Trace, Test, Treat will be accelerated). If our decisions are data-driven, the better our response will be,” said Convocar.
The priority list for the COVID-19 vaccination program should be strictly followed, the HPAAC also emphasized.
“Kung hindi masusunod ito, hindi natin magagamit ang limitadong supply ng bakuna upang makamit ang herd immunity at maprotektahan ang kalakhan ng ating mga kababayan (If this is not followed, we will not be able to use the limited supply of vaccine to achieve herd immunity and protect the majority of our countrymen),” said Convocar.
The HPAAC also called on the government to provide efficient transportation and bike lanes.
“Naging malaking problema ang transportasyon noong huli tayong sumailalim sa ECQ dahil limitado ang mga pampublikong sasakyan na bumibiyahe para sa ating mga healthcare at essential workers na kailangan paring pumasok kahit tayo ay nasa ilalim ng isang lockdown (Transportation became a big problem during the previous implementation of ECQ as there were limited public vehicles then--- for our healthcare and essential workers who still needed to go to work even if we were under a lockdown),” said Convocar.
“Dapat na siguraduhing may tamang supply ng mga jeep, tricycle, at iba pang mga pampublikong sasakyan na pwedeng bumiyahe upang hindi mapilitang magsiksikan o maglakad ang ating mga frontline workers papunta sa kanilang trabaho (We must ensure that there is a proper number of jeeps, tricycles, and other public vehicles that can travel so that our frontline workers are not forced to walk while going to work),” she added.
“Marapat din lamang na mapabilis ang pagpapatayo ng ating National Bike Lanes. Ito ay isang ligtas at mabisang alternatibong transportasyon para sa mga frontliners (It is also necessary to speed up the construction of our National Bike Lanes. It is a safe and effective transportation alternative for frontliners),” she furthered.
Proper assistance should also be given to people whose livelihoods will be affected due to the implementation of ECQ, HPAAC said.
“Panigurong napakarami na naman ang mawawalan ng kabuhayan dahil sa restrictions na na-aprubahan ng IATF. Aming pakiusap sa mga economic managers na siguruhing may tamang subsidy na matatanggap ang mga vulnerable populations na ito upang walang makakaranas ng gutom sa panahon na ito (It is certain that many more people will lose their livelihoods due to the restrictions approved by the IATF. We urge economic managers to ensure that these vulnerable populations receive the right subsidy so that no one will experience hunger during this time),” said Convocar.
Lastly, the HPAAC encouraged the public to strictly adhere to the minimum health standards.
“Bagama’t may mga ilang reporma na nagawa na, napakarami pa ring pagbabago na kailangang isagawa upang siguraduhin na hindi na mauulit ang ganitong pagtaas ng mga kaso sa oras na buksan muli natin ang ating ekonomiya. Kung hindi po natin ito magagawa, babalik at babalik lang tayo sa ganitong sitwasyon (Although some reforms have been made, there are still a lot of changes that need to be done to ensure that this increase in cases does not happen again once we reopen our economy. If we can't do it, then we will return again in this kind of situation),” said Convocar.